Backpacks and school supplies for children in need, courtesy of Faith Community Church

Faith Community Church will give away backpacks filled with school supplies Aug. 31 at the UA Stadium 16 theater in Mariners Harbor.Staten Island Advance

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Faith Community Church will give away backpacks filled with school supplies to Staten Island children in need Aug. 31.

The items will be distributed during a special "Back To School Blessing" event beginning at 9 a.m. at the UA Stadium 16 theater at 2474 Forest Ave., Mariners Harbor.

Supplies are limited and reservations are required. To reserve a backpack filled with notebooks, pens and pencils, rulers, crayons and folders, call 718-447-1224 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

"I want to encourage parents to make reservations early," said outreach coordinator and children's ministries director Diane Petrosino. "Reservations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Last year, we reserved the maximum amount of backpacks within just hours of taking calls."

The Castleton Corners church, led by the Rev. Gary Comis, senior pastor, distributed approximately 150 backpacks last year.

Since 1992, Faith Community Church has been helping local families through holiday food and coat distributions, health fairs and Christmas gifts.